JP2024027902A - Beverage spouting cock, valve rod and beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure that is advantageous for retaining a valve in a beverage spouting cock more surely in a closed state.

SOLUTION: A beverage spouting cock comprises: a valve main body having a hole and a valve seat arranged on an edge part of the hole; a valve rod arranged slidably in the hole, having a shaft-shaped member, a valve body attached to the shaft-shaped member and constituting a first valve together with the valve seat of the valve main body, a holding part that holds the valve body, and a first seal; and a movable part slidably arranged inside the hole, having a second seal opposite the first seal, in which the second seal constitutes the second valve together with the first seal. The valve rod has a channel that penetrates the holding part to the first seal through the internal part of the shaft-shaped member. The valve body includes a ring part having an abutting part to abut on the valve seat, and a cylindrical part that extends from the ring part along the shaft-shaped member and fits in a receiving part of the hole.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing faucet, a valve stem and a beverage dispenser.

Patent Document 1 describes a beverage dispensing cock that is supplied with a beverage from a beverage supply source. This beverage dispensing cock has a valve body and a valve stem slidably arranged in the valve body, and has a valve seat provided in the valve body and a valve body provided in the valve stem. A valve is configured to open and close a flow path for dispensing the beverage.

Patent No. 6583979

The valve stem may be made of an alloy or metal, such as stainless steel, to have adequate strength, while the valve body may be made of resin to reduce manufacturing costs. When the temperature of the environment in which the beverage dispenser is placed suddenly drops due to operation of an air conditioner, etc., the amount of contraction of the valve body may be greater than the amount of contraction of the valve stem. Usually, the valve stem is slidable within the valve body, so the difference between the amount of contraction of the valve body and the amount of contraction of the valve stem can be absorbed by the valve stem sliding. However, in situations where the valve stem is becoming stuck to the valve body due to beverage components, etc., the valve stem may be prevented from sliding, and the difference between the amount of contraction of the valve body and the amount of contraction of the valve stem may not be absorbed. be. In such a situation, when the temperature of the environment in which the beverage dispenser is placed drops suddenly, such as due to operation of an air conditioner, the valve may not be able to remain fully closed, and beverage may leak through the valve.

An object of the present invention is to provide an advantageous structure for more reliably maintaining a valve in a beverage dispensing faucet in a closed state.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a beverage dispensing cock that is supplied with a beverage from a beverage supply source, the beverage dispensing cock comprising a valve body having a hole and a valve seat disposed at an end of the hole; a shaft-like member that is slidably disposed in the hole; a valve body that is attached to the shaft-like member and forms a first valve together with the valve seat of the valve body; a holding portion that holds the valve body; a valve stem having a first seal; and a second seal slidably disposed within the bore and opposing the first seal, the second seal being a second seal along with the first seal of the valve stem. a movable part constituting a valve, the valve stem has a flow path that passes through the holding part and passes through the inside of the shaft member to reach the first seal, and the valve body The cylindrical portion includes a ring portion including a contact portion that abuts the seat, and a cylindrical portion that extends from the ring portion along the shaft-like member and fits into the receiving portion of the hole.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a valve stem that is slidably disposed in a hole of a beverage dispensing cock through which a beverage is supplied from a beverage supply source, and the valve stem includes a shaft-like member, the shaft-shaped The valve body has a valve body attached to a member, a holding part that holds the valve body, and a first seal, and the valve body has a contact part that comes into contact with a valve seat provided on the beverage dispensing cock. a cylindrical portion extending from the ring portion along the shaft-like member and fitting into the receiving portion of the hole, the valve stem passing through the holding portion and extending along the shaft-like member. A flow path is provided through the member to the first seal.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a beverage dispenser, said beverage dispenser comprising a beverage dispensing faucet according to the first aspect.

According to the present invention, an advantageous structure is provided for more reliably maintaining a valve in a beverage dispensing faucet in a closed state.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration (standby state) of the beverage pouring cock of the embodiment. The figure which shows the structure (state at the time of pouring) of the beverage pouring cock of embodiment. The figure which shows the structure (state at the time of foaming) of the beverage pouring cock of embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration (standby state) of the beverage pouring cock of the embodiment. The figure which shows the structure (standby state) of the beverage pouring cock of a comparative example. An enlarged view of a portion of the valve stem and its surroundings according to the embodiment. An enlarged view of a portion of the valve stem and its surroundings according to the embodiment. The figure which illustrates the beverage pouring cock of embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a beverage dispensing device.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more features among the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same or similar configurations are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a beverage dispensing device 100. Beverage dispensing device 100 includes a beverage dispenser 101, a dispensing head 102, and a pressure regulator 104. The pressure regulator 104 is attached to the valve of the carbon dioxide cylinder 105. The pressure regulator 104 reduces the pressure of carbon dioxide supplied from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 105 and supplies the reduced pressure to the supply head 102 via the hose 107 . The dispensing head 102 is attached to the valve of a beverage transfer container (keg, etc.) 103 as a beverage supply source. The supply head 102 pushes out a beverage such as beer in a beverage transfer container 103 using carbon dioxide pressure and supplies it to the beverage dispenser 101 via a hose 108 . The beverage dispenser 101 has a beverage dispensing cock 1, which cools the beverage supplied from a beverage transfer container 103 via a supply head 102 and a hose 108 using a cooling section, and then passes the beverage through the beverage dispensing cock 1 into a beer mug or the like. Pour into beverage serving container 106.

1 to 3 show configuration examples of a beverage dispensing cock 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows the standby state, FIG. 2 shows the pouring state, and FIG. 3 shows the foaming state. The beverage dispensing cock 1 may include a housing 50 attached to the main body (cooling part) of the beverage dispenser 101, a valve body 10, a valve stem 20, a movable part 30, a lever 40, and a spring 60.

Valve body 10 may have a bore 12 and a valve seat 14 located at an end of bore 12 . Further, the valve body 10 may include a foaming port 80 for discharging foam from the beverage. The valve body 10 may be configured as an integral part with the housing 50. Valve stem 20 may be slidably disposed within bore 12 of valve body 10 . 70% or more, 80% or more, or 90% or more of the material constituting the valve body 10 may be resin.

The valve rod 20 may include a shaft member 23 , a valve body 25 , a holding portion 26 , and a first seal 24 . The axial direction of the shaft-like member 23 corresponds to the direction in which the valve rod 20 can slide in the hole 12 of the valve body 10. In other aspects, the axial direction of the shaft-like member 23 coincides with the axial direction of the hole 12 of the valve body 10. 70% or more, 80% or more, or 90% or more of the material constituting the shaft member 23 may be an alloy or metal such as stainless steel. The valve body 25 constitutes the first valve V1 together with the valve seat 14 of the valve body 10. The first valve V1 is a valve for controlling the pouring of a beverage such as beer. The holding part 26 holds the valve body 25. In another aspect, the holding portion 26 cooperates with the shaft-like member 23 to hold the valve body 25. The valve rod 20 has a flow path 21 that passes through the holding portion 26 , passes through the inside of the shaft-like member 23 , and reaches the first seal 24 .

The valve body 25 may be made of rubber, for example. The valve body 25 may include a ring portion 28 and a cylindrical portion 27. The ring portion 28 includes an abutment portion T that abuts against the valve seat 14 . The cylindrical portion 27 is a portion extending from the ring portion 28 along the shaft-like member 23, and may be configured to fit into the receiving portion 13, which is the end of the hole 12.

The movable part 30 may be arranged to slide within the hole 12 of the valve body 10 when the lever 40 is operated. The movable part 30 has a second seal 32 that faces the first seal 24 of the valve stem 20 . The second seal 32 constitutes the second valve V2 together with the first seal 24 of the valve stem 20. The second valve V2 is a valve for controlling the supply of foam (foaming) to the beverage.

Housing 50 includes a spout 70 for dispensing a beverage. As shown in FIG. 1, during standby, the first seal 24 of the valve stem 20 and the second seal 32 of the movable part 30 may come into contact with each other. Furthermore, during standby, the valve body 25 of the valve stem 20 can come into contact with the valve seat 14 of the valve body 10 .

As shown in FIG. 2, when dispensing a beverage, the lever 40 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2, thereby moving the movable part 30 to the right in FIG. Since the second seal 32 of the movable part 30 and the first seal 24 of the valve stem 20 are in contact with each other, when the movable part 30 moves to the right in FIG. 2, the valve stem 20 also moves to the right. . As a result, a gap (flow path) is formed between the valve seat 14 of the valve body 10 and the valve body 25 of the valve stem 20, and the beverage supplied from the main body of the beverage dispenser 101 flows between the valve seat 14 and the valve body 25. The liquid is delivered to the spout 70 through the gap between them, and is poured out through the spout 70.

As shown in FIG. 3, when foaming a beverage, the lever 40 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3, whereby the movable part 30 moves to the left in FIG. 3 while compressing the spring 60. . By moving the movable part 30 to the left, a gap (flow path) is formed between the first seal 24 of the valve stem 20 and the second seal 32 of the movable part 30, and the beverage is supplied from the main body of the beverage dispenser 101. Beverage is delivered through the flow path 21 of the valve stem 20 into the gap between the first seal 24 and the second seal 32. At this time, the beverage becomes foamy. The foamed beverage is forced out through the foaming port 80.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a state in which the valve stem 20 is contracted relative to the valve body 10 from the state shown in FIG. Such a phenomenon may occur due to a decrease in the temperature of the environment in which the beverage dispenser 101 is placed. A gap may be formed between the valve seat 14 and the ring portion 28 (contact portion T) of the valve body 25 due to the contraction of the valve stem 20 relative to the valve body 10 . However, in the beverage dispensing cock 1 of the embodiment, even in such a case, the state in which the cylindrical portion 27 of the valve body 25 is fitted into the hole 12 is maintained, so the first valve V1 is maintained in the closed state. Ru.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a state in which the valve stem 20 is contracted relative to the valve body 10 in a beverage dispensing cock 1' of a comparative example. In the comparative example, the valve body 25' does not have a portion corresponding to the cylindrical portion 27. Therefore, in the beverage dispensing cock 1' of the comparative example, the valve stem 20 contracts relative to the valve body 10, so that the gap between the valve seat 14 and the ring portion 28 (contact portion T) of the valve body 25 is reduced. When a gap is formed, the first valve V1 becomes open, and the beverage supplied from the main body of the beverage dispenser 101 can leak into the spout 70 through the gap.

6 and 7 show enlarged views of a portion of the valve stem 20 and its surroundings. The outer diameter D2 of the cylindrical portion 27 is larger than the inner diameter D1 of the receiving portion 13 (the portion into which the cylindrical portion 27 fits) of the hole 12 of the valve body 10. The difference (D2-D1) between the outer diameter D2 of the cylindrical part 27 and the inner diameter D1 of the receiving part 13 is, for example, 0.05 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less, and 0.1 mm or more and 0.4 mm or less. is preferred. If this difference (D2-D1) is too small (for example, smaller than 0.05 mm), the fit between the cylindrical part 27 and the receiving part 13 will be loose, and the effect of preventing beverage leakage may become insufficient. On the other hand, if this difference (D2-D1) is too large (for example, larger than 0.5 mm), it will be difficult to fit the cylindrical part 27 and the receiving part 13, and the effect of preventing beverage leakage will be insufficient. It can be. The outer diameter D2 of the cylindrical portion 27 is, for example, 11.75 mm or more and 12.2 mm or less, and preferably 11.8 mm or more and 12.1 mm or less.

The shaft member 23 may have a contact portion 29 that contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 27 . The length by which the cylindrical part 27 is inserted into the receiving part 13 in the axial direction of the shaft-like member 23 during standby (the state shown in FIG. The maximum length L1 to be inserted is, for example, 0.3 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, and preferably 0.5 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less. The lower limit value of L1 can be determined so as to sufficiently prevent beverage leakage due to the fitting between the cylindrical portion 27 and the receiving portion 13 during standby (the state shown in FIG. 1). The upper limit of L1 can be determined so that a sufficient flow path is secured between the valve body 10 and the valve stem 20 during pouring (the state shown in FIG. 2). The length L3 of the cylindrical portion 27 in the axial direction of the shaft-like member 23 is preferably longer than the length L2 of the contact portion 29 in the axial direction of the shaft-like member 23. In addition, in FIG. 7, although L1 and L3 are shown as having the same size, L1 and L3 may be different from each other. The length L3 of the cylindrical portion 27 in the axial direction of the shaft member 23 is 0.3 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, and preferably 0.5 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less. The cylindrical portion 27 may have a constant outer diameter, but a tapered portion may be provided at the tip portion (the end portion on the side far from the ring portion 28). The boundary between the ring portion 28 and the cylindrical portion 27 in the valve body 25 can be defined as the boundary between a portion of the valve body 25 where the outer diameter is constant and a portion where the outer diameter changes.

The shaft-like member 23 may have a recess 201 that accommodates the end 202 of the holding part 26, and the holding part 26 can be fixed to the shaft-like member 23 by inserting the end 202 into the recess 201. . That is, the holding portion 26 can hold the valve body 25 in cooperation with the shaft-like member 23. The recess 201 and the end 202 may be fastened together by press fitting, screws, or other methods.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the beverage spouting cock 1 may further include a cover 90 that positions the lever 40 and covers the spout 70. The cover 90 may be configured such that the lever 40 is positioned at the standby position (closed position) when the cover 90 is placed to cover the spout 70, as shown as A in FIG. As a result, the movable part 30 is also positioned at the standby position (closed position), and the cylindrical part 27 can be easily fitted into the receiving part 13 by the pressure of the beverage. That is, when the cover 90 is arranged to cover the spout 70, the movable part 30 can be positioned through the positioning of the lever 40 by the cover 90 so that the cylindrical part 27 fits into the receiving part 13.

The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the invention.

1: Beverage pouring cock, 10: Valve body, 12: Hole, 13: Receiving part, 14: Valve seat, 20: Valve stem, 21: First flow path, 22: Second flow path, 23: Shaft member, 24: First seal, 25: Valve body, 26: Holding section, 27: Cylindrical section, 28: Ring section, 29: Contact section, T: Abutting section, 30: Movable section, 32: Second seal, 40: lever, 50: housing, 60: spring, 70: spout, 80: foaming spout, 90: cover, 100: beverage pouring device, V1: first valve, V2: second valve, 221: 201: recess, 202, end

Claims (16)

A beverage dispensing faucet that is supplied with a beverage from a beverage supply source, the beverage dispensing faucet comprising:
a valve body having a hole and a valve seat located at an end of the hole;
a shaft-like member that is slidably disposed in the hole; a valve body that is attached to the shaft-like member and forms a first valve together with the valve seat of the valve body; a holding portion that holds the valve body; a valve stem having a first seal;
a movable part having a second seal slidably disposed in the hole and facing the first seal, the second seal forming a second valve together with the first seal of the valve stem; Prepare,
The valve stem has a flow path that passes through the holding portion, passes through the inside of the shaft-like member, and reaches the first seal,
The valve body includes a ring part including a contact part that comes into contact with the valve seat, and a cylindrical part that extends from the ring part along the shaft-like member and fits into the receiving part of the hole. include,
A beverage dispensing cock characterized by: The outer diameter of the cylindrical part is larger than the inner diameter of the receiving part of the hole.
The beverage dispensing faucet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The difference between the outer diameter of the cylindrical part and the inner diameter of the receiving part is 0.05 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less,
The beverage dispensing faucet according to claim 2, characterized in that: The shaft-like member has a contact portion that contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical portion,
The length of the cylindrical portion in the axial direction of the shaft-like member is longer than the length of the contact portion in the axial direction.
The beverage dispensing faucet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The maximum length of the cylindrical part inserted into the receiving part in the axial direction is 0.3 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less,
The beverage dispensing faucet according to claim 4, characterized in that: The cylindrical portion has a constant outer diameter,
The beverage dispensing faucet according to claim 4, characterized in that: The shaft-like member has a recess that accommodates an end of the holding part, and the holding part is fixed to the shaft-like member by inserting the end into the recess.
The beverage dispensing faucet according to claim 1, characterized in that: a lever for sliding the movable part;
A pouring spout;
further comprising a cover that covers the spout while positioning the lever,
The movable part is positioned through positioning of the lever by the cover so that the cylindrical part fits into the receiving part when the cover is arranged to cover the spout.
The beverage dispensing faucet according to claim 1, characterized in that: 70% or more of the material constituting the shaft member is an alloy or metal, and 70% or more of the material constituting the valve body is resin.
The beverage dispensing faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: A valve stem slidably disposed within an aperture of a beverage dispensing faucet that is supplied with beverage from a beverage source, the valve stem comprising:
It has a shaft-like member, a valve body attached to the shaft-like member, a holding part that holds the valve body, and a first seal,
The valve body includes a ring portion including a contact portion that comes into contact with a valve seat provided on the beverage dispensing cock, and a ring portion extending from the ring portion along the shaft-like member and into a receiving portion of the hole. a cylindrical portion that fits;
The valve stem has a flow path that passes through the holding portion, passes through the shaft-like member, and reaches the first seal.
A valve stem characterized by: The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion is 11.75 mm or more and 12.2 mm or less,
11. The valve stem according to claim 10. The shaft-like member has a contact portion that contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical portion,
The length of the cylindrical portion in the axial direction of the shaft-like member is longer than the length of the contact portion in the axial direction.
11. The valve stem according to claim 10. The length of the cylindrical portion in the axial direction is 0.3 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less,
13. The valve stem according to claim 12. The cylindrical portion has a constant outer diameter,
13. The valve stem according to claim 12. The shaft-like member has a recess that accommodates an end of the holding part, and the holding part is fixed to the shaft-like member by inserting the end into the recess.
The valve stem according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that: A beverage dispenser comprising the beverage dispensing cock according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

Images